Gallery Update
GEORGE NEWS - George Airport resembled a battlefield after "explosives ignited" on a plane last Thursday.
Many residents were under the impression that there was a huge accident somewhere in the area, but the emergency vehicles seen and heard in and around town were "responding" to a simulation exercise at the airport.
For the simulation that started about 09:00, an aircraft supposedly from OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg transmitted to Air Traffic Control (ATC) that there were explosives among its cargo.
The aircraft was directed to a safe parking area for police experts to investigate the cargo.
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As the "passengers" disembarked and police bomb experts and members of the the K-9 unit boarded the aircraft, an explosion went off, "killing" some of the police members and six crew members.
No passengers "died" during the explosion.
It almost looks like the real thing.
The various emergency services had quick reaction times and responded in a well-organised way.
According to George Airport Manager, Brenda Vorster, these biannual emergency exercises are in line with the statutory requirements as prescribed by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao).
"This is in addition to the internal emergency exercises that are carried out on a regular basis," she said.
From left are Gerald Biljon (Airline coordinator for CemAir), Brenda Vorster (George airport manager) and Capt Malcolm Pojie (Southern Cape police spokesperson) in the airport's media room during the 'incident'.
On board simulated flight EB1974 from Johannesburg to George were 150 passengers and six crew members.
As soon as the "explosives" ignited, emergency services were activated and rushed to the horrendous scene.
A mock emergency centre and operations room was set up to allow the fictitious airline the space to deal with the humanitarian side of the emergency.
The operations room had to account for all the passengers and crew that would have been on the flight and they had the unenviable task of speaking to the "family and friends".
"All indications are that the emergency services in the Eden District are working together like a well-oiled machine and are ready to successfully manage a disaster of this magnitude.
Assisting in the exercise were Thomas Hodgson (Comair Emergency Response specialist), Ilze Jacobs (tourism safety and support officer of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism), Claudia Lamont (Menzies) and Bongani Mtshawa (Swissport).
"This was evident from the feedback from evaluators and observers during the initial assessment of the simulated aircraft emergency exercise," said Southern Cape Police Spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie.
"A few shortcomings and challenges that were identified in the exercise will be corrected through constant training and other means of intervention."
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: KRISTY KOLBERG, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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